I have had little spots on my arms and top legs for a while now, I started to exfoliate and that helped but it hasnt made them go I really want them to go as I dont feel comfortable with showing my bare arms please help, do you have any other suggestions??
Are you plagued by red bumps (a.k.a. 'keratosis pilaris') on the backs of your arms?
Those little rough red or white bumps that annoyingly plaque the backs of arms and sometimes the thighs are called "keratosis pilaris." They're not acne, it's actually a genetic follicular skin condition that's also known as "chicken skin" because of it's resemblance to, well, chicken skin.
Who does it affect? Kerastosis pilaris affects almost half of all adults and up to 80 percent of adolescents.
What causes it? Keratosis pilaris develops when the skin produces excess keratin which traps hair follicles causing them to plug up. This can result in a thickening of the skin.
How to get rid of it? Topical treatments are your best bet. Skip the acne creams, and apply one these topical treatments commonly used to treat keratosis pilaris:
Moisturizer with lactic acid or urea. Used twice daily, this treatment helps dissolve the thickened skin, according to Jeannette Graf, a professor of dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital, in Allure magazine. Graf recommends over-the-counter AmLactin 12% Moisturizing Cream.
If the OTC product doesn't work, ask your dermatologist or family doctor for prescription Carmol 10 or Lac-Hydrin.
Avoid hot showers and abrasive scrubs. Scrubbing the area only exacerbates the problem.
Ask your doctor about topical retinol products such as Retin-A, Retin-A Micro, Evita or Adapalene. Retinols increase new cell turnover and help unclog pores.
Topical corticosteroids are sometimes prescribed for a short time period. They provide temporary relief, but can only be used short term, because they have long-term health benefits.
Invest in a humidifier in your bedroom when a furnace is in use in your home. More moisture in the air means less dry skin.
I think I may have keratosis polaris because my legs have it very bad all over, particualrly around the back of my calf,and just above the knee on the front of my thigh, also on the back of my arms!however im just wondering aswell because during the last summer, I was out in the scorching sun a lot and on the front of my calves I got a lot of sun exposure, not burnt or anything, but almost!and because of that, the spots cleared up and instead of spots I just had these tiny little scabs that once I picked off, my skin looked perfect?...is that normal?...the spots have since returned but I just wonder is sun exposure a common cure or something?...or should I buy some kind of vitamin d cream or someting?im very tempted to try a sun bed, but am terrified of the skin cancer risk even after one use!please help.
Hi, I have this too and I saw something about this on a TV programme. Apparently, it has something to do with a lack of fish in the diets as most people who were stopped had these spots on their arms. Omega supplements can also be helpful if you are vegetarian. I have not yet tried this, so I am not entirely sure that this works. Hope this helps though (:
I once had small white spots appear on my back and chest and my doctor told me it was some form of fungus that could come from using a bath towel more than once (which I commonly do). He told me to buy dandruff shampoo and wash the areas with the shampoo until they were gone. It worked like a charm.
Can you describe these spots? Do they itch, what do they look like, etc? A bit more detail would be helpful. Could be anything from psoriasis, eczema, to a simple rash, an allergic reaction or hand, foot and mouth disease.
The little red spots appear in patches on the top of my feet and back of my hands and legs. They itch but not bad, just a little. What is this and why am I breaking out???
I have this too, they are small reddy purple dots on my upper forearms and biceps. some are like dents and go inward.
any ideas of how to get rid of it?
I have the same thing and I HATE showing my arms. Did anything work for you? I don't think its keratosis pilaris because they turn purply sometimes
I have this to adn I have been to l3 differnet docters and none of them can tell me what it is
